Driving Rain: 10 Tips for Safe Driving in Bad Weather

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of cruising down the road on a warm, sunny day — windows rolled down and your tunes turned up! When the weather turns inclement, however, it’s a lot less fun to drive from Point A to Point B.

You might do everything in your power to avoid driving in bad weather, but there are times when it’s unavoidable. Prepare yourself to stay safe on the road by reading these tips and stocking your vehicle with emergency essentials.

10 Tips for Staying Safe While Driving in Bad Weather

Some of these tips apply to wet, slick conditions, while others are more applicable to snow and ice. It’s important to check the weather forecast (and traffic reports) even if a glance out your window tells you it’s 75 degrees and sunny.

Weather conditions can change in the blink of an eye! And always exercise diligence and caution when you drive, no matter how beautiful the skies are.

1. Concentrate and Focus

We’ve all had the experience of realizing, once we arrive at our destination, that we don’t remember a thing about the drive. We’ve made the trip while driving on autopilot.

This can be frightening, but it turns out that this absentminded driving is actually much safer than texting while driving, or doing other tasks that take our mind from the road.

Nevertheless, when the weather is bad, you want to muster all of your attention — and devote it to the business at hand. Use extra caution when the road is wet and slippery, or when heavy precipitation makes visibility bad. Accelerate cautiously, and be prepared to tap your brakes.

2. Slow and Steady Wins the Race

In fact, it’s actually a good idea to reduce your overall speed in poor conditions. Slow and steady is the way to go. Don’t be intimidated or pressured by other drivers who are speeding along, passing you left and right — although you actually should get over into the far right lane if possible.

It is always better to take your time and arrive safely than to speed through bad weather conditions.

3. Cruise Control? More Like Lose Control

You might be tempted to turn on your cruise control if the visibility is bad, but resist that temptation! On roads that are wet and slippery from rain or snow, cruise control can actually cause your car to lose control.

If you hydroplane while on cruise control, your car will speed up. Keep yourself at a safe speed the old-fashioned way — using the gas pedal and the brake pedal.

4. Understand the Risk of Hydroplaning

While we’re on the subject of hydroplaning, let’s take a look at exactly what it is and how you can deal with it. When there is rain on the road — even as little as 1/12th of an inch — your car’s tires can slip and slide. That’s because you’re losing the traction that comes from direct contact between tire and asphalt.

To stop hydroplaning, take your foot off the accelerator. Slamming on the brakes will only cause more slippage. Steer slowly and carefully to bring your car back into a straightforward trajectory.

5. Use Your Headlights

Should you turn on your headlights when driving in bad weather? Absolutely. In many states, the law mandates headlight use when the windshield wipers are on. Even if there is no precipitation, however, you should always use your headlights in dim or foggy conditions.

Sure, headlights help you see the road ahead — but they’re also useful for other cars to see you! This is especially true if your car is white, gray, blue, or black, and as dusk and dawn are approaching. To be on the safe side, always use your lights. It could very well prevent a traffic accident.

6. Watch Out for Black Ice

Black ice is a bit of a misnomer; the ice is actually clear, just like normal ice. However, it forms on the road and can appear black. Or maybe it’s called that because it’s so deadly?

Black ice is extremely slippery, and it tends to form on bridges and in intersections. Use extra caution, and slow down substantially, when approaching an area that may have a layer of black ice.

7. Don’t Brake in Turns

You need to handle turns differently when the road is slick. Don’t brake through a turn as you usually would; instead, you’ll want to learn progressive breaking, also called feathering the brakes.

Essentially, you will want to feather the brakes while approaching a turn, take your foot off both the brake and gas pedal to coast through the turn, and then feather the brakes again if necessary.

8. Turn In To Skid

Speaking of turning, what about the old advice to turn into a skid? Yes! Although it may run counter to common sense — or to your instinct as your tires start to skid out, turning into the skid is smart.

Again, take your foot off the brakes and the gas pedal, while turning the wheel toward the direction you’re skidding. This effectively “cancels out” the skidding motion, and sets you back on a straight path.

9. Have Your Car Serviced for Winter

If you live in an area that gets rain, snow, and/or ice in the winter, get your car serviced before the inclement weather season. That might mean winter tires and special windshield wiper blades. It will also include winter-ready fluids such as wiper fluid, antifreeze, and oil.

10. Stock An Emergency Kit

Keep some essentials in your car at all times. They will come in handy if your car breaks down or if you’re stuck in less-than-ideal conditions because of bad weather.

Such essentials include a first-aid kit, non-perishable food and some bottles of water, a blanket and change of warm clothes, and something to help you gain traction if you live in a snowy area.

A box of inexpensive kitty litter will do the trick, and will also add some extra weight to your vehicle to help anchor it on slippery roads.

Wrapping Up

The Scandinavians have an expression that says, “There is no bad weather; just bad clothing.” That applies to driving techniques as well!

If you take these tips for driving in bad weather to heart, you will stay safe and get to your destination on time.